Introduction to Digital Pastels
---Instructor: Tim ONeill
The Colonel, a Digital Pastel Creation
Description
In the next four weeks we will delve into expressionistic painting using a pastel technique.
We will take a peek at the history of traditional media pastels, some differences in the different types of pastels and how the ground, substrate, or paper will make a big difference in the look of your images. We will have the opportunity to paint three images using a pastel technique.
Skill Level
This class is a beginner to intermediate skill level class. For best results the student must be familiar with the Corel Painter user interface, be able to import an image into Photoshop and Corel Painter, select brushes, and save files.
Software Requirements
The software required for this class is Corel Painter 9 or newer, and either Photoshop CS2 or newer or PS Elements 7 or newer.
Hardware Requirements
Your computer that will work with your version of PS and Corel Painter.
Week four we will be printing out an image and laying down some traditional media pastels as an embellishment. You will need your own printer and a few sheets of water color paper to print out on. If you don’t have a printer that can do that you can use a local printer to help you out.
If neither of those are available you can use our partner and sponsor for speaking tours, Allied Photo at http://www.alliedphoto.com/ or call them at 616-452-3941/800-368-6113
Other Requirements
As mentioned we will apply some traditional media pastels to a printed image in week four. There will be an alternative assignment for those that do not want to go through with that project. If you do want to participate, you will need some pastels. Go to your local art/craft store and purchase some pastel pencils. Below is the complete list of supplies for the class IF you want to embellish a print.
- 1-2 sheets of water color paper that will go through your printer (or a lab/studio in town to print for you)
- 2-Spray fixative to seal your image after printing and before applying pastels
- 3-Pastels of some sort to use for your embellishment
Course Gallery
[Gallery not found]Before Class
There are a few things that will help you get a jump on this class. In the fourth week we will print one of the images from the first three weeks and embellish it with pastels. You will want to have on hand a few sheets of water color paper for your printer or find someone locally to print an image for you if you want to participate in that portion of the assignment. The other thing is that you will want some pastels to embellish with. If you are new to pastels I would suggest pencil pastels or soft chalk pastels. Purchase them at your local art supply store or a big box hobby store like Hobby Lobby or Michaels. Pastels are expensive. There is no requirement that you have to buy these for the class. There is an alternative assignment. Invest in the material if you desire to pursue pastels further.
To save you time here are a few online sources:
You can get a starter set of soft pastels or pencils at Dick Blicks or Cheap Joes for roughly $50.
http://www.dickblick.com/products/sennelier-soft-pastel-sets/
http://www.dickblick.com/products/stabilo-carbothello-pastel-pencil-sets/
http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supplies/4598_pastel-supplies.asp
The other thing needed is a fixative. Sealing your paper will allow you to use your pastels on the print without rubbing off the emulsion. Here are some easy rattle can spray fixatives NOTE: DO NOT USE THESE SPRAY FIXATIVES IN AN ENCLOSED AREA.
The other thing to keep in mind about embellishment is that a lot of testing needs to take place for your particular printer/ink/paper combination. Your setup will differ from mine. My recommendation is test, test, test. I have ruined many prints because the combination I was tying to use would not work. I have used Breathing color, and Golden Artist Colors Varnishes as well as premier art sprays with good success but please don’t expect to have great results on the first try with your paper printer combo. It could happen but most likely will not.
http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supply/3044913_5286_winsor-newton-artists-workable-fixative-spray.asp
This is an article written by my friend Michael Townsend. Mike is a super-tech from Golden Artist Colors. It tells you a bit about the importance of sealing images from a ink jet printer.
http://www.goldenpaints.com/justpaint/jp14article3.php
Week One
Brush Research
Watch the brush research video or read the Brush Research PDF.
Start by experimenting and see how each type of brush specific to pastels reacts to your stroke and how you can make various changes in the brushes.
Watch the Pastel technique video to get an idea of one method of creating a pastel emulation.
The first assignment is to create a loose piece based on a photo of a sphere, the file to use is located in the resource area for week one. There are no rules, you can do anything you want with the image. The emphasis will be on using the brushes from your research to emulate a pastel drawing.
As points of interest there are a few other documents that are released in week one. A PDF file on the history of Pastels, A PDF document with various books on traditional media pastels and a PDF document with other pastel resources.
Week Two
Paper Color and Texture
Watch the Video or read the document on paper color and texture.
Experiment with paper texture combinations. Come up with three version that you like.
Use one of these combinations to create your second pastel image of an overall landscape scene with a horse and rider. The image can be found in the Week two resource area.
Share your work.
Week Three
Read the PDF file on the differences in traditional pastel media.
Create your next digital pastel painting using the dancer reference image located in the Week Three resource area.
Week Four
Embellishment of Your Digital Pastel Image
Read the PDF file on embellishment.
Read the Pastel accessory document.
Read the document Common Pastel Mistakes.
Print out or have printed one of your images from the first three weeks and use your pastels to create a unique original mixed media piece.
If you don’t want to embellish one of your images then create a fourth digital pastel using one of your files or the file provided in the Week Four resource area.